I had chosen Stetsasonic Brooklyn 1988 by Janette Beckman. For this photo a lot is going on in it, it’s a group photo on a street side in Brooklyn. One of the first things I noticed was the matching clothes and how the red kind of functions as a two-way arrow kind of making your eye go up and down the image. There’s also a lot of shade, contrast, and darker tone pigment which is kind of combating the white clothes. If I were to guess the image would intend to give a sensation of unity or our neighborhood camaraderie. If not I would take a fair guess to it being a show of pridefulness for being a Brooklynite.
The key elements to this photo would be the figure to ground, pattern, repetition, and finally the rule of thirds. The White and the darker-toned colors work as a sort of pattern within the photo and a good way to withdraw interest throughout it. However, because the gray backgrounds contrast with those colors, it helps keep the sense of passive sort of emotion for the subjects. The mix of the people within it being crouched and standing up creates more points of interest within the image is very collaborative with the colors, people, and the background.
20 pts. The goal of the Final Project is to create a series of 10 related images on a theme. The images should show your range as a photographer. Depending on the project, each image should be visually engaging and contribute to your story in a unique way.
You may choose to do either:
A series of portraits (not 10 pictures of 1 person but 10 pictures of 10 people) OR
A portrait of a neighborhood
OR another theme that you are passionate about: dogs, skateboarders, basketball players, street fashion to name a few possibilities.
Deliverables and dates:
Due Week 11: Nov 14 – a 300 word final project statement posted to Openlab with “a mood board”
Due Nov 28: Shoot 1 – minimum of 40 images in an album on Flickr
Due Dec 5: Shoot 2 – minimum of 40 images in an album on Flickr
Reading Day – Dec 12
Due Dec 19: Shoot 3 -minimum of 40 images in an album on Flickr PLUS
final 10 images selected, adjusted in Lightroom, and posted to an album on Flickr
a presentation to the class of the final images.
Total = 4 albums: 1 for each of three shoots, 1 with the final edited images
All coursework must be submitted by no later than 11:59 pm on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Shoot a total of 30 environmental portraits of three different subjects- 10 each.
Environmental Portrait-is a photograph of a person in their environment. It usually shows their whole body in a place that is meaningful to them. This could be their home or workplace or neighborhood. The surroundings illuminate something about the subject’s life.
When shooting indoors, remember keep the shutter speed faster than 1/60. Better the raise the ISO. It may be too dark. If so change the location!
When shooting outdoors, shoot in diffused light: either shade or cloudy weather.
Make sure that there is light on your subject’s face.
My final project is all about capturing the real deal of city life. It’s like this big archive, a collection of moments that show what it’s like for people just doing their thing in a busy city. You know, waiting for the train, hanging out in a park with friends, standing in line for a hot restaurant, or checking out cool art in a museum. I’ll be cruising around Brooklyn and Manhattan, snapping shots in different spots to give you a feel for the everyday scenes. No frills, just genuine slices of urban life. I’m going for that street photography vibe—capturing the raw and spontaneous moments that make city living unique. I’ll mix it up with wide shots to show off the city’s vibe and some close-up portraits for those personal moments. Natural light is my go-to, and I’ll throw in some motion shots and lots of vibrant colors to catch that city energy. Basically, it’s like taking a chill stroll through the neighborhoods, giving you a visual diary of what goes down when people are just being themselves in the city. It’s not just about the pics; it’s about soaking in the vibe and telling a laid-back story of the city’s rhythm.
Below are some of the photographers who will inspire this project.
Girma Berta is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is a self-taught street photographer who composes his images in a really unique way, creating contrast using strong and harsh colors. His work guides the viewer through the everyday life of African people not in a documentary, but more like in a fine art style. His work has been featured in different publications, and exhibitions internationally and received several awards.
Helen Levitt (1913-2009) captured a poetic view of mid-20th century New York City. She photographed women, children, and community street life. Her images of the city are warm and approachable. They show a side of urban life full of community. Her pictures are vignettes of domestic life.
Saul Leiter (1923-2013) was an American photographer working in the 1940s and 1950s. He photographed in black and white. But he is known as an early pioneer of color street photography. His images capture the quiet moments of the city. Soft focus and reflections give his pictures an impressionistic, painterly quality.
Phil Penman was born in the UK and he was raised in New York. He’s been documenting the ever-changing life of the city for more than 25 years. Besides being a street photographer, he photographed celebrities. Also, he followed historical events like 9/11.
Xyza Cruz Bacani is a Filipina street and documentary photographer. She is based in Hong Kong and her mission is to raise awareness of under-reported issues. She won numerous awards and her work has been exhibited worldwide. She is one of the Magnum Foundation’s Human Rights Fellows. Besides this, she won several titles and awards. She’s a true visual storyteller and she’s found perfectly how she can use her voice to stand for human rights.
The London-based Joshua K. Jackson is a street photographer, whose work focuses on the connection people have with their surroundings. He can perfectly capture small interactions between people as well. He uses color and lights to enhance the atmosphere an everyday scene can have. A lot of his images are shot at night when people are going home, sitting in bars, or talking with each other. His perfectly composed images express love, loneliness, and intimacy.
A final project proposal of 300 words min plus a gallery of images for inspiration otherwise known as a mood board.
The goal of the Final Project is to create a series of 10 related images on a theme.
You may choose to do either:
A series of portraits (not 10 pictures of 1 person but 10 pictures of 10 people) OR
A portrait of a neighborhood
OR another theme that you are passionate about: dogs, skateboarders, basketball players, street fashion to name a few possibilities.
Decide which assignment(s) you most enjoyed. What are you most interested in? Then consider: do you have people to work with? What is your schedule like and what is practical?
Final Project statement: Describe your project. What is your theme? What is the story you want to tell? What is the subject matter? Where will you shoot and when will you shoot? What kinds of techniques will you use?
Find a minimum of 6 images by 6 different photographers that show what you want your project to look like. Put them in a gallery in the post with your final project statement.
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